Chapter 2 - 2 Ah, Gravity
A sharp snapping sound echoed around, and, a girl fell from above. Tumbling down, soon to reach her destination, and cause an unpleasant scene for all who may witness. To all, it's by no means a common occurrence.
Also to Koenwin, it was unexpected. His eyes were caught upwards by the startling sound, but before his brain registered 'A girl is falling', he'd set into motion. Dashing directly beneath the girl's frame allowing for a second of thought as he stared up. From her appearance, she almost looks like a teenager, which would make her light and no issue to catch.
Unfortunately, this notion would prove to be entirely misled. Koenwin's confidence not exactly aligning with his wit. The girl's momentum carried her heavily down into his insufficiently supporting arms, causing the poor man to crumble uselessly beneath her arguably light weight.
"Ow... gravity..." The crushed man mutters with what little strength he can muster.
"Ah! I'm sorry I'm sorry!"
The girl who had just accepted her fate, clammers off in a panic.
"A-are you alive?! Are you hurt?! Is anything broken?!"
To make things worse - for the girl who'd just fallen from a building - she'd forgotten the time she just made. Was it 1 minute 23? Or 1 minute 37? She can't remember, thus, making this entire event entirely pointless; for all that running and timekeeping along the way only needed a second of distraction to escape her mind completely.
Now back upon the solid ground of the Sky Island, she's fair game for all the shopkeepers she'd tormented with her noisy sprinting along her 'path'. Some finding her behaviour especially frustrating and having trailed her in hopes of scolding the girl. Of who's striking hair they immediately recognize. A unique flamed-brick red, flowing generously down her back. Although ruffled from the fall.
'There's that girl.'
All around the two, pedestrians and shopkeepers alike had gathered, muttering amongst each other for varying reasons. That she's the one causing a stir, or 'That girl just fell from the rooftops!'. More commonly, they comment on her appearance.
Within this archipelago of 128 Sky Islands, erected in a dazzling spiral recognized as Ria Volute, house numbers of races from the desolate Terra Fōrdon who now call here home. Just about any feature one could imagine is found in at least one race. Horns, scales, sharp teeth, claws, everything but the typical. As if someone grabbed a handful of animals and threw them together.
There is, however, an apparent lack of races who haven't any discernable features. I.e. without horns, or snouts. But amongst the populace, they do still exist, though they've been assigned numerous derogatory terms - Most commonly, the 'Soloren.'
'From the upper-caste?'
'Ugh... what is pain like her doing around these parts?'
'Bastards...'
Allegedly (Words of old men in history books), the 'Soloren' are direct relatives to the ancient race of humans, and with the reputations humans hold, they are naturally treated as such. The ancient race unseen in recent times has the blame pinned upon them - That is, blamed for the appearance of Fōrdners. Said to of ravaged the land below with wars and infighting, pushing races unlike themselves to their ends. Snowballing into the world's remnants having to flee to the sky, Ria Volute. Being outed and compared to humans rightly caused her guilt and embarrassment.
Escalating the people's poor opinion of her more is her resemblance to noble families of the center islands. Unreachable by common folk. Some of the Elite, though very few, are Soloren who share the same hair colour as this young girl. Of course, this would bring people to unjust conclusions about her standing. As seems tradition with people in power, they aren't particularly liked - respected maybe, but certainly not revered. Specifically, the Soloren nobles in question are Elves, not seen by the public eye in eons, though their existence is claimed. Elves were one of the few races conspiring with humans so long ago, only redeeming themselves upon allegedly causing the 128 Sky Islands to arise with magic forgotten to the annals of time - Only after their threatened extinction, of course.
Despite her ears hidden and no actual proof of who she is, she's Soloren enough to receive condemnation. Even if her race remains known only in speculation.
"I didn't do anything... I-I'll be going in just a second."
She glanced to the still-winded man sprawled on the ground, seriously considering leaving him. She's grateful for the save. But yet again, she doesn't know the man.
"So cruel you are..." Koenwin fumbles about on the ground, slowly finding his way to his knees with some mandatory grunts and groans.
"What? Why-"
"You were going to leave me here. Weren't you?"
The girl seems shocked by the man's words, the man's... true... words. "Gah- Erm..." Her face contorts slightly in embarrassment and shame.
"You're a Soloren?"
She nods.
"Either way... You seemed to of stirred up some trouble." Koenwin sighed as he spoke. Hastily standing from the ground, unequipping his ragged cloak, and dripping it around her smaller body. Ensuring the hood effectively covers her signature hair. Now, however, Koenwin's own appearance is readily given not just to the girl, but bystanders also.
"You..." Her surprise stemming not just from a dusty cloth suddenly wrapped around her, but also the man's features. Or, lack thereof.
Koenwin needn't ask the girl to finish her words, he's well aware of what he looks like -he has access to mirrors. But for onlookers, it's an entirely different story. They've never seen the man, but now they have, and rightfully causing a commotion is the absence of anything. That is, no horns, pointy ears, snout, or fur. Just some charcoal-coloured hair in desperate need of styling.
